Is fishing allowed in the marinas?​

There is absolutely NO fishing allowed in Marina Bay or Southport marinas. There are many reasons for this including:

1. Our marina insurance will NOT allow it. 

2. Hooks are snagging boat covers.

3. Lines are getting wrapped up in the props.

4. People are standing on boats that are not theirs and damage is occurring.

5. It is private property. Whether someone has a slip or not, there is NO fishing allowed.

​

What is a boat slip or "slip"?​

A slip is where you dock your boat in the marina for the summer season. It is a paid place to keep your boat while enjoying the river throughout the summer without having to take it in and out of the water with every use. If you enjoy the slip you have been given for the season- you will be able to remain in that slip year after year.

​

How do I get a slip at Marina Bay or Southport?​

You can start by clicking on the tab above "Add me to the Waitlist" and once you fill this out it will alert us of your interest in a slip. You may also email or text with your interest. From there, we will reach out to you and proceed with answering questions and adding you to the marina waitlist- either Marina Bay or Southport. We will not be able to specify a slip assignment for you until after January 31. But don't worry, you will hear from us in later February or early March to verify details at that time. If you would choose to change your mind, just let us know and we will just cancel you from the waitlist.

 

What is a boat ramp pass?

(Only allowed in MARINA BAY)​

Marina Bay and Southport are PRIVATE marinas. A boat ramp pass is a pass that you can buy from us to load and unload your boat ONLY in Marina Bay as many times as you wish during that summer. This is for someone who does not rent a slip and just wants access to the ramp through the season. Also for someone that rents a slip but may have another vessel they would like to load and unload from time to time-marina bay only. The boat ramp pass costs $400. Just reach out by email or text/call if you are interested in this. Once you have paid, we will mail you a sticker that needs to be placed on your TRAILER for marina staff to visualize. Again- we are unable to offer a boat ramp pass for Southport. With that being said, we will be towing any trailers that are left in the Southport marina parking areas as we do not have the room for these when customers are trying to park their vehicles to use their paid-for slip. If we find you are using the marina bay private ramp without a ramp pass- you will be flagged with a notice on your windshield. If it occurs again your trailer will be towed. We now have security cameras that have license plate recognition to help monitor this situation, as well as marina staff that round the parking lot often. Please respect this rule. 

With the ramps in both marinas- you are NOT authorized to allow anyone else to load or unload your boat without a RAMP pass. They may use the public ramp if that is the case.

​

When does the marina open & close?​

Weather has a big factor in this, however, the goal every year is to have all the docks "set" by May 15 in order to use your slip. Depending on when the ice is off can play a role in this opening date. Sometimes we can have it ready sooner if the weather cooperates. We will update everyone on Facebook when the marinas are open. The Facebook pages are either Marina Bay slip members OR Southport slip members. Please join and you will receive all updates and current communications with your marina. The slips are scheduled to be empty by October 1st every year. 

​

How much does a boat slip cost for the season?​

For 25 ft slips the regular cost is $1490 (early bird is $1290)

For 30 ft slips the regular cost is $1990 (early bird is $1790)

For 40 ft slips the regular cost is $2190 (early bird is $1990)

For personal watercraft ports the regular cost is $790 (early bird is $690)

These prices are not changing from 2024. Will stay the same for the 2025 season.

​

What is the cancellation policy?​

Once your slip is paid for and later you decide you would like to let go of your slip (and it is before April 1st)- there is a $200 cancellation fee. If it is after April 1st, we are unable to refund your slip. We do not allow "giving your slip to someone else" and there are many reasons for this. If that does occur, then the slip will be expired and no longer will all parties involved be able to rent from us in the future.

​

When is the "early bird" payment deadline?​

For only the returning slip renters, the contract for the following season is emailed out in November. At that time, the returning slip renter can receive a $200 discount if the slip is paid in full before January 31st. After this date, ALL (new and returning slip renters) pay the regular price. Final payment is then due April 1st. If payment is not received on this date we will add an additional fee.

 

What is the cost if I want to store my boat or personal watercraft (pwc) trailer with you?

Slip renters cost is $200 (boat trailer/double pwc) and $100 (single pwc trailer) for the season

Non-slip renters cost is $300 (boat trailer/double pwc) and $200 (single pwc trailer) for the season.

 

**You MUST have a trailer pass sticker ON the trailer in order to store your trailer with us, otherwise it will be towed.

​

As a returning slip renter, what if I want to keep my slip but pay only the minimum in order to hold my slip for the upcoming season and pay later?  ​

That is entirely fine. You will need to pay $200 by January 31 (or we can assign your slip to someone else if no money down) in order to hold your slip. We start assigning unclaimed slips right after the deadline. If you plan to pay only the deposit, you will need to call or email and let us know you would like to pay this way so we can adjust your contract to reflect this. The final payment will be due by April 1st then- or you can pay the full amount any time prior to that date. We do charge the regular full price when paying deposit only, and do not offer the early bird special then. If not fully paid by April 1st and you still want the slip there will be an additional fee applied to final payment.

​

How do I pay for my slip?​

Once you have been offered a slip (contract extended to your email) through "dockwa" you will be able to navigate through that site and put in your credit card information. They have added a processing fee for credit card and debit card users. If you prefer to mail a check you will choose "manual or cash/check" payment. If you choose to pay cash, you will need to email/text us to arrange that cash payment for drop off.

​

How do I get my credit card payment to work on my Dockwa account?​

On the rare occasion you have trouble with the credit card process on dockwa, here is an approach below to help with that. If you are using a credit card from last year and it is not working for you, we have found that deleting that card and "adding new" can help. That way you can link the newly inputted card with the contract you are signing. 

​

To delete a credit card you will first log into your dockwa account.

Select "payment" from the "account" dropdown menu in the top right corner. The direct link is https://dockwa.com/account/payment

Click the "delete" button next to the card that you would like to remove from your profile.

​

If you cannot remove the card, it is most likely attached to an active reservation. To delete this card you must first "change" the card linked to your active reservation(s). 

1. Navigate to your accounts credit cards

2. Select change card in blue beneath the active card

3. Select the card you wish to use OR select the "add a new card" button

4. Click "update payment method"

Note that if your payment failed previously, following these steps above will automatically retry the new payment method for only the amount that is due.

​

To just change the expiration date on your credit card you will need to delete the old credit card and add the card again with the updated expiration date.

​

How do I get my slip decal/sticker?​

We will finalize slip assignments in the spring and plan to mail you the boat decal in early April. If your address has changed- please reach out to update this. If you are not sure if we have the correct one on file, it never hurts to email/text your address to us to make sure we have it. It is listed at the top of your contract.

​

Where do I place my slip sticker/decal on my boat?​

You will place the slip decal pass on the starboard (drivers) side of your boat, to the LEFT of your ND registration numbers. Please cover old passes with the current one. All boats and watercraft MUST display these decals in order to maintain a spot in the marina. 

​

When do I know my slip assignment?​

For returning slip renters- if paying for your slip in full or by deposit before January 31- you resume the same slip assignment as the year before. In February, slip assignments start and as we juggle moving slip renters (per their request) we will know more about your specific slip assignment by mid March or sooner if you have asked for a change in slip assignment OR if you are offered a slip per the waitlist. We will no longer contact people after January 31 if we have not heard from you before that date. Contracts will just be voided on February 1st then.

​

I would like to switch to a different slip from last season if possible?​

Once all returning slip renters have paid by January 31 we will then be able to move assignments accordingly for returning renters that want to "move" to a different slip. Fill out your contract to hold a slip (paid in full or deposit by Jan 31) and send an email or text with your request of change. We will note it in your profile and try to accommodate best we can- pending what is available. We will reach out to you before assigning a new slip- making sure you are agreeable. This will not happen until well after January 31st.

​

I would like to sell my boat and slip to someone.

 How do I go about this?​

You will need to email us to let us know that you will no longer be needing your slip but instead passing it on (along with the boat) to a new owner. We will then "expire" your contract so that you no longer receive emails associated with this slip. From there, the new customer should email or text/call us requesting that particular slip so that we can "extend the offer" to them. They will then be able to fill out the new offered contract plus we will have to add a $200 transfer fee to the new customer for the "switch over". In regards to "giving your slip to someone else" we will have to actually add them to the waiting list if there is no boat sold with the slip. Usually we can accommodate this for most.

​

What information do I need when completing the contract?​

We will need your boat make/model/length/year. We also need your Hull number. This is the 12 digit number that is located on the transom (back) of your boat, usually upper right hand corner. This number can be put in the "boat name" box when filling out your contract or you can email it to us as well and we can fill that in for you. The hull number is like the VIN on a vehicle. Additionally, we need your insurance carrier, policy # and expiration date when filling out the contract.

Finally we will need your address to mail your sticker decal for your boat. Please email us your current address and phone number if you are a new customer.  

​

How do I delete my boat in Dockwa since I bought a new one?​

If you have added your boat to your dockwa account in the past, then you will have to delete it as we can not do that on our end. Refer to https://dockwa.com/account/boats. You should be able to just go to the "boats" tab and X out the boat you want to remove. If we added the boat for you, then we can delete it on our end.

​

Who do I contact if I want to hire certain boat services?

For example:

(load in the spring, unload in the fall, winterization, storage in the winter)​

​We work closely with Moritz Sport and Marine when it comes to these services. They have a commercial ramp pass in order to work with you and provide these services to you. You may follow them on facebook and they often have their prices and scheduling up to date there. If you can not find that- please contact them directly at 701.222.2000. You can ask for service and they can help facilitate this for you and take the work off your hands. Remember, if you hire another company to perform these services you will have to verify with them that they also have a commercial ramp pass. We offer this to limited companies that do this service as well, but they do need a purchased commercial ramp pass to use the marina ramp. Otherwise, please direct them to use the public boat ramps. There is a lot of wear and tear on the ramps, so we just ask that this rule be followed. 

​

How do I contact you?

Address: "Marina Bay" or "Southport"

PO Box 4202 Bismarck, ND 58502

Email:  info@bismanslips.com

Phone:  text/call 701.527.9653

Facebook for updates:

"marina bay slip members"

"southport slip members"